The Troubled Soul # 2 (and others)

The Troubled Soul # 2 (and others)

It is strange how the people were affected by this miracle. Jesus had come among them to bless them. He would have gone on, working other miracles, if they had been willing. But the loss of their swine was too much for them. There always are people who hate Christ's religion, because it interferes with their wrong business and cuts off the source of their sinful gain. Saloon keepers oppose revivals, because when the devil is cast out of men they do not patronize the saloons any more!

But it is always a perilous thing to ask Jesus to go away. He did now as these people asked Him to do - He would not stay where He was not wanted. He went away; carrying with Him the blessings He had brought and meant to leave. So the sick remained unhealed, the lame still continued lame, demoniacs remained demon-possessed. We must be careful never to ask Christ to go away from us. We see Jesus sailing away from this coast, to come back again no more. May He not do the same if we ask Him to leave us?

He knows where He wants His saved ones to witness for Him. This ex-demoniac wished to go with Him - but there was other work for him to do. There are different ways of serving Christ. Some of His disciples, He asks to leave home and friends to follow Him into distant lands. Others He wants to stay at home and bear witness among those who have known them to the grace and love of God. Each one of us may be sure that if we truly put our life into the hands of Christ - He will give us our work where it will do the greatest good.

If He wants one young minister to go to the foreign field as a missionary, he must go. But he must not blame his classmate who does not go to the foreign mission field - but enters the mission field at home. The home mission service is just as honorable as the foreign one. The only question with anyone should be, "What does Christ want me to do? Where does He want me to work for Him?" We serve Christ best - when we serve in the place and in the manner in which He directs us!


~J. R. Miller~

(The End)
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Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! (Acts 7:56 ISV)

One, perhaps supreme, factor in the significance of Stephen was what he saw at the end and said with almost his last breath: "Behold, I see the heavens opened; and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). Here we have the central and basic reality of true New Testament Christianity, of the Church and the churches – Jesus on the right hand of God. The government, the authority, the headquarters, vested in the ascended Lord, and centered in heaven; not in Jerusalem, nor anywhere else on earth.... The Jewish rulers and Stephen's accusers were quick and shrewd enough to recognize the implications, for they had no less and no other import than that the "Temple made with hands" was finished; the dispensation of the Law was ended. There was an implicit call to the Church of Jesus to leave the Temple and all that went with it and to move into the greater, the fuller, and the abiding reality.

The tragedy is that, with [the book of] "Hebrews" in their hands, responsible leaders of the Church can still adhere to a system and form which is but the extension or carry-over of the Old Testament, with certain changes of phraseology. The immensity of the change and gap has certainly not been apprehended. Some of the most terrible things in the whole Bible are contained in that letter in relation to the crisis and the two ways and realms. The issue is no less than that of Life and death. All this has much to say regarding the true nature of the Church and the churches. He that hath eyes to see, let him see!

~T. Austin-Sparks~
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The Power of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:4-8

Have you ever felt inadequate to live the Christian life? If so, then you are exactly where God wants you to be, because you have discovered a vital truth: No one has the power in him- or herself to live a holy life. We are all in the same boat, but there is someone else with us who has the power we need—the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus gave His disciples the task of preaching the gospel to the entire world, they had absolutely no ability to carry it out. That’s why He told them to wait until the Holy Spirit came. In the same way, if we hope to accomplish what God desires in our life, we need to live with full dependence on the third Person of the Godhead.

The power of the Spirit is God’s divine energy and authority released in believers’ lives for the purpose of righteous living and fruitful service. When we walk in the Spirit, we’re relying on His strength to accomplish God’s will. As a result, we experience the following benefits:

• We may get tired, but we won’t burn out.
• We’ll trust God instead of trying to manipulate our circumstances.
• We may experience distress, but we won’t become desperate.
• We won’t become overwhelmed with discouragement or obstacles, knowing the Spirit within us will enable us to do what He’s called us to accomplish.

When we do God’s work by His strength, in His way, and with His wisdom, we’ll be blessed no matter what goes on around us. Walking in the Spirit doesn’t mean life will be easy—but we never have to walk through it alone, because our Helper is always with us.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~

A Troubled Soul # 1

A Troubled Soul # 1

"When Jesus got out of the boat - a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet Him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones!"

In this demoniac, we have a sample of the work of satan - when he gets full control in a man. He destroys every beautiful thing in the life, and leaves only ruin! No chains could bind this demoniac. When sin is on the throne, all other influences and constraints become like spiders' threads in comparison! No chain is strong enough to bind the man - who has yielded himself to the sway of the evil one! The love of a godly mother is a strong bond - but many a child tears off this holy chain and rushes into wayward and evil paths! Home ties are strong - but these too are broken asunder, by the victim of satan's ungodly rule.

One feature of this case, was that the demoniac cut and gashed himself with stones. This illustrates what in many ways satan's captives always do. They may not literally go about cutting their flesh with knives or bruising their bodies with stones; but they do gash and bruise their souls! Sin always wounds the life - and one of its fearful consequences is the self-destruction it works. Every sin one commits leaves an ugly scar! We grieve God by our wrongdoing, and we harm others when we sin against them; but we always injure ourselves - by every evil word we speak, by every wrong act we commit, even by the evil thoughts we think in our hearts. The self-hurt of sin is one of its saddest consequences!

Demons are afraid of Christ. "Swear to God that you won't torture me!" The torment this demon dreaded, was in being deprived of the opportunity of tormenting the man of whom he had possession. Demons find their pleasure in working mischief, in destroying the beautiful work of God's hands, and in ruining lives. Godly men count that day lost - in which they have done no act of kindness to another. Demons count the day lost - in which they have stained no pure soul or led no one into sin!

We ought to tear off satan's mask and show him as he is! Evil comes to us pretending to be a friend. It holds flowers in its hands and whispers entrancing words, promising rich rewards: "Only do this - and it will bring you pleasure, honor, wealth and joy!" That is the way sin talks. But this is all false. Sin is never a friend to man. It never does good to anyone - but always harm. However plausibly satan may present his temptations, under the guise of pleasure - his secret aim is to destroy the soul he tempts. Nothing gives the evil one so much pleasure - as to see a fair and beautiful life - stained and debauched!

It is most comforting to us, to find that Christ is able to dislodge even the most obdurate and persistent demon! No one could bind this demoniac, nor resist his superhuman strength. But at His word - the foul spirit was compelled to leave the man he had possessed for so long. No human hand can break the chains of sinful habits. No mere resolution can free one from satan's bondage. Only Christ can set the devil's captives free! Those who have long been trying in vain to reform, to break away from evil practises - see in Christ the Friend who alone can deliver them and save them. No demon-power can resist His command. Only Christ can free the poor slaves of satan! He alone can free them, drive out their enemy, and save them from his terrible sway!

"Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the
man and entered the swine. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned!" (Mark 5:13).

In the swine, under demoniac possession, rushing down the steep cliff and perishing in the lake - we have another illustration of the end of all satan's ruinous work. It is with men - as it was here with the swine. It never yet has been known that satan impelled anyone upward to a better life or to anything noble and lofty; he always drives down steep ways into choking floods. God's ways lead upward - it is always uphill to Christ and to heaven. Every divine impulse is toward something higher and better. Christ never yet sent a man downhill. But the devil always drives downward. These poor swine, demon-possessed, rushed down the steep bank, into the lake - and perished. Just so do human souls, demon-possessed, rush down sin's precipitous course and perish! It would be well to keep this dreadful picture in our mind when we are tempted in any way by the devil; for if we follow him - this is the way it will surely end with us!

~J. R. Miller~

(continued with # 2)

The Great Giver # 3

The Great Giver # 3

The word "freely" not only signifies that God is under no constraint, but also means that He makes no charge for His gifts, He places no price on His blessings. God is no retailer of mercies or barterer of good things; if He were, justice would require Him to charge exactly what each blessing was worth, and then who among the children of Adam could find the payment? No, blessed be His name, God's gifts are "without money and without price" - unmerited and unearned.

Finally, rejoice over the comprehensiveness of His promise: "How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" The Holy Spirit would here regale us with the extent of God's wondrous grant. What is it you need, fellow Christian? Is it pardon? Then has He not said, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)? Is it grace? Then has He not said, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8)? Is it a thorn in the flesh? This too will be given "there was given to me a thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7). Is it rest? Then heed the Saviour's invitation, "Come unto Me...and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). Is it comfort? Is He not the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3)?"

"How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" Is it temporal mercies that the reader is in need of? Are your circumstances adverse so that you are filled with dismal forebodings? Does your cruse of oil and barrel of meal look as though they will soon be quite empty? Then spread your need before God, and do it in simple childlike faith. Do you think that He will bestow the greater blessings of grace - and deny the lesser ones of Providence? No! "My God shall supply all your need" (Phil. 4:19). True, He has not promised to give all you ask, for we often ask amiss." Mark the qualifying clause: "How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" We often desire things which would come in between us and Christ if they were granted, therefore does God in His faithfulness withhold them.

Here then are four things which should bring comfort to every renewed heart.

The Father's costly sacrifice. Our God is a giving God and no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

The Father's gracious design. It was for us that Christ was delivered up; it was our highest and eternal interests that he had at heart.

The Spirit's infallible inference. The greater includes the less; the unspeakable Gift guarantees the bestowment of all other needed favors.

The comforting promise. Its sure foundation, its present and future scope, its blessed extent - are for the assuring of our hearts and the peace of our minds.

May the Lord add His blessing to this little meditation.

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)

The Great Giver # 2

The Great Giver # 2

Yes, for you fellow Christian, who are sometimes tempted to interpret your afflictions as tokens of God's hardness; who regard your poverty as a mark of His neglect, and your seasons of darkness as evidences of His desertion, O, confess to Him now the wickedness of such dishonoring doubtings, and never again question the love of Him who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.

Faithfulness demands that I should point out the qualifying pronoun in our text. It is not God "delivered him up for all," but "for us all." This is definitely defined in the verses which immediately precede. In v. 31 the question is asked, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" In v. 30 this "us" is defined as those whom God did predestinate and has "called" and "justified." The "us" are the high favorites of heaven, the objects of sovereign grace. God's elect. And yet in themselves they are, by nature and practice, deserving of nothing but wrath. But yet, thank God, it is "us all" - the worst as well as the best, the five hundred pounds debtor, equally as much as the five pence debtor.

3. The Spirit's Blessed Inference.

Ponder well this glorious "conclusion" which the Spirit of God here draws from the wondrous fact stated in the first part of our text, "He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things." How conclusive and how comforting is the inspired reasoning of the apostle. Arguing from the greater to the lesser, he proceeds to assure the believer of God's readiness to also freely bestow all needed blessings. The gift of His own Son, so ungrudgingly and unreservedly bestowed, is the pledge of every other needed mercy.

Here is the unfailing guaranty and pledge of perpetual reassurance to the drooping spirit of the tried believer. If God has done the greater - will He leave the less undone? Infinite love can never change. That love which spared not Christ - cannot fail its objects nor begrudge any needed blessings. The sad thing is that our hearts dwell upon what we have not - instead of upon what we do have. Therefore the Spirit of God would here still our restless self-communings and quiet the repinings of ignorance with a soul-satisfying knowledge of the truth, by reminding us not only of the reality of our interest in the love of God, but also of the extent of that blessing which flows therefrom.

Weigh well what is involved in the logic of this verse. First, the great Gift was given unasked; will He not bestow others for the asking? None of us supplicated God to send forth His beloved; yet He sent Him! Now, we may come to the throne of grace and  there present our requests in the virtuous and all-efficacious name of Christ.

Second, the one great Gift cost Him much; will He not then bestow the lesser gifts which cost Him nothing but the delight of giving! If a friend were to give me a valuable picture, would he begrudge the necessary paper and string to wrap it in? Of if a loved one made me a present of a precious jewel, would he refuse a little box to carry it in? How much less will He who spared not His own Son, withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.

Third, the one Gift was bestowed when we were enemies; will not then God be gracious to us now that we have been reconciled and are His friends? If He had designs of mercy for us while we were yet in our sins, how much more will He regard us favorably now that we have been cleansed from all sin by the precious blood of His Son!

4. The Comforting Promise

Observe the tense that is used here. It is not "how has he not with him also freely given us all things," though this is also true, for even now are we "heirs of God" (Romans 8:17). But our text goes further than this: "How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" The second half of this wondrous verse contains something more than a record of the past; it supplies reassuring confidence both for the present and for the future. No time limits are to be set upon this "shall." Both now in the present and forever and ever in the future God shall manifest Himself as the great Giver. Nothing for His glory and for our good, will He withhold. The same God who delivered up Christ for us all "does not change like shifting shadows."

Mark the manner in which God gives: "How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" God does not have to be coaxed; there is no reluctance in Him for us to overcome. He is ever more willing to give than we are to receive. Again, He is under no obligations to any; if He were, He would bestow of necessity, instead of giving "freely." Ever remember that He has a perfect right to do with His own as He pleases. He is free to give to whom He wills.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)

The Great Giver # 1

The Great Giver # 1

"He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all - how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

The above verse supplies us with an instance of Divine logic. It contains a conclusion drawn from a premise; the premise is that God delivered up Christ for all His people, therefore everything else that is needed by them is sure to be given. There are many examples in Holy Writ of such Divine logic. "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire - will He not much more clothe you?" (Matt. 6:30). "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son - how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" (Romans 5:10). "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children - how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matt. 7:11). So here in our text the reasoning is irresistible and goes straight to the understanding and heart.

Our text tells of the gracious character of our loving God as interpreted by the gift of His Son. And this, not merely for the instruction of our minds, but for the comfort and assurance of our hearts. The gift of His own Son is God's guarantee to His people of all needed blessings. The greater includes the lesser. His unspeakable spiritual gift is the pledge of all needed temporal mercies. Note in our text four things:

1. The Father's costly sacrifice.

This brings before us a side of the truth upon which I fear we rarely meditate. We delight to think of the wondrous love of Christ, whose love was stronger than death, and who deemed no suffering too great for His people. But what must it have meant to the heart of the Father when His beloved left His Heavenly Home! God is love, and nothing is so sensitive as love. I do not believe that Deity is emotionless, or stoical. I believe the sending forth of the Son was something which the heart of the Father felt - that it was a real sacrifice on His part.

Weigh well then, the solemn fact which premises the sure promise that follows: God "spared not His own Son!" Expressive, profound, melting words! Knowing full well, as He only could, all that redemption involved - the Law rigid and unbending, insisting upon perfect obedience and demanding death for its transgressors. Justice, stern and inexorable, requiring full satisfaction, refusing to "clear the guilty." Yet God withheld not the only Sacrifice which could meet the case.

God "spared not His own Son," though knowing full well the humiliation and ignominy of Bethlehem's manger, the ingratitude of men, the not having where to lay His head, the hatred and opposition of the ungodly, the enmity and bruising of satan - yet He did not hesitate. God did not relax ought of the holy requirements of His throne, nor abate one whit of the awful curse. No, He "spared not His own Son." The utmost farthing was exacted; the last dregs in the cup of wrath must be drained. Even when His Beloved cried from the Garden, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," God "spared Him not. Even when vile hands had nailed Him to the tree, God cried "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, the man who is my Partner, says the Lord Almighty. Strike down the Shepherd!" (Zech. 13:7).

2. The Father's Gracious Design.

"But delivered Him up for us all." Here we are told why the Father made such a costly sacrifice. He did not spare His Son - that He might spare us! It was not lack of love to the Saviour - but wondrous, matchless, fathomless love for us!! Oh marvel at the wondrous design of the Most High. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Truly, such love passes knowledge. Moreover, He made this costly sacrifice not grudgingly or reluctantly, but freely - out of love for us!

Once God had said to rebellious Israel, "How shall I give you up, Ephraim?" (Hosea 11:8). Infinitely more cause had He to say this of the Holy One, His well-beloved, the One in whom His soul daily delighted. Yet, He "delivered Him up" - to shame and spitting, to hatred and persecution, to suffering and death itself. And He delivered Him up for us - descendants of rebellious Adam, depraved and defiled, corrupt and sinful, vile and worthless! For us who had gone into the "far country" of alienation from Him, and there spent our substance in riotous living. Yes, "for us" who had gone astray like sheep, each one turning to "his own way." For us "who were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" in whom there dwelt no good thing. For us who had rebelled against our Creator, hatred His holiness, despised His Word, broken His commandments, resisted His Spirit. For us who richly deserved to be cast into the everlasting burnings and receive those wages which our sins so fully earned.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)

I Am In Agony In This Fire! (and others)

I Am In Agony In This Fire! (and others)

The rich man called to him, "Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire!" But Abraham replied, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony!" (Luke 16:24-25).

It is a grievous fact that many an ungodly sinner walks in a flowery path to perdition - and goes merrily to his eternal ruin. It is, on the contrary, as certain that many a godly Christian travels by a rough and toilsome road to heaven - and ascends to glory amid many tears. Our Divine Lord has set forth this in the most solemn of His parables - the rich man and Lazarus. If we looked only at the outward and earthly condition of these two men, we would say one is the type of all that is felicitous; while the other is the type of all that is miserable.

But who that looks upon their eternal abode, would not a thousand times rather be Lazarus with his poverty, sores, and beggary, feeding at the rich man's gate upon the crumbs which fell from his table - than the wealth possessor of the mansion, with his purple and fine linen and daily luxurious living! Look up at the one who has dropped all his poverty, borne by angels to Abraham's bosom! And then look down upon the other, stripped of his splendid garments, deprived of his luxurious living, and from the midst of his torment begging for a drop of water to cool his parched tongue - and there see the end and outcome of "sanctified poverty" and of "unsanctified wealth."

~John Angell James~
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Honor, Wealth, and Pleasure Lose Their Charms

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word. It was good for me to be afflicted!" (Psalm 119:67, 71).

Afflictions tend to wean us from the world - and to fix our affections on things above.

We are all too worldly!

We gravitate too much to earth!

Our feet stick in the mire, and we do not soar aloft on the wings of faith and hope into the regions above, as we ought.

We are like moles - when we should be like eagles!

Hence the need, and the benefit too, of afflictions.

~John Angell James~
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Vacationing At Resorts?

The line of distinction between the world and the church is fast disappearing.

What shall be said of the conduct of some professing Christians vacationing at resorts? It has become almost one of the necessaries of life to most. To say that this is wrong to those who can afford to pay for it, is certainly not my intention. But some professing Christians have ruined themselves, and plunged their families into poverty and distress, by habits of expense and idleness, acquired by this annual excursion to the sea. The taste of the age is for luxurious gratification, and it is certainly one of these luxuries to while away a week or two amidst the beauties of the coast. I will suppose, however, that the professor can afford the gratification; still, are not his spendings for this enjoyment, out of all due proportion with his donations to the cause of Christ? When did he ever give, in one amount, to any Christian cause, what he gives, in one amount, for his treat to his family to a resort? No, put together all that he gives to the cause of the Lord for a whole year, and does it equal what he spends upon one vacation, lavishing hundreds - or thousands, in riding into the country, or sailing on the sea, and luxuriating in other ways on the shore.

When a world is perishing, and immortal souls are sinking daily in crowds to perdition, a Christian should give much thought to those souls around him. It is fun to have a little pleasure for ourselves if, and only if, we can value the cause of Christ also.

~John Angell James~

Israel's Need And God's Mercy # 3

Israel's Need And God's Mercy # 3

Blessed be God for the provision He has made for us, for we have found His grace sufficient for us, and His strength perfected in our weakness. Our shoes have been iron and brass; and as our day - so has our strength been. We have gone by day and night. Ah, some of us have traveled much by night! But we have ever found the truth of the testimony, "Unto the upright - there arises light in darkness."

He continued His kindness to them unto the end. "Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." The symbol of the divine presence continued with them until Moses died. When Joshua became leader, the ark opened the way through the Jordan, and conducted them into the promised land.

Just so, God's providence will care for us, comfort us, lead us, and supply us - until we come to the Jordan. And then Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, Jesus, the ark of the everlasting covenant - will lead us across the river, make the way plain and easy, and introduce us to the promised land.

He who began with us, will go on with us - nor will He leave us nor forsake us until He has done all that He has spoken to us of. Every jot and tittle of His Word must be fulfilled, for the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake; because it has pleased the Lord to make them His people. We are confident of this very thing - that He who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ!

Beloved, are you traveling from Egypt to Canaan - from earth to Heaven? If so, you need a guide. No creature will be found sufficient. It must be the Lord Himself!

He guides all His people by His providence, for His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of all those whose hearts are perfect towards Him.

He guides them by His grace. His Word is our directory - the map of our journey. On that He shines by His Holy Spirit, and in us He works by the same divine agent. He convinces, He inclines, He leads, He sustains, and at length introduces us to the eternal rest prepared for the people of God.

If God is your guide - He will adapt His manifestation to your circumstances. There will be no visible could or fire - but He will make your way plain before your face. He will not guide you as a horse or mule -  with bit and bridle; but as a rational being - as a beloved child. He will take you by the hand, gradually and graciously clear your way, and comfort and encourage you as you go on.

Under His guidance you will make progress both by day and night.

In prosperity and adversity,
in joy and sorrow, 
in light and darkness,
in summer and winter, 
you will still make way to the promised land.

The true Christian can travel by day or night. He is not dependent on circumstances. He often rises beyond the region of second causes. He makes progress - because the Lord is with him.

If God begins to lead you, He will go through the whole journey with you. He will not leave you in the middle. He will not forsake you toward the end.

Doubts may beset you, fears may assault you, satan and the world may conspire against you - but your God will guide you. He will support, supply, and defend you; and make all His goodness pass before you!

When Israel was from Egypt freed,
The Lord who brought them out,
Helped them in every time of need,
But led them round about.

They often murmured by the way,
Because they judged by sight;
But were at length constrained to say,
The Lord had led them right!

By fire and cloud their way was shown,
Across the pathless sands;
And Amelek was overthrown,
By Moses' lifted hands.

The way was right, their hearts to prove,
To make God's glory known,
And show His wisdom, power, and love,
Engaged to save His own!

Just so the true believer's path
Through many dangers lies;
Though dark to sense, 'tis right to faith,
And leads us to the skies!

~James Smith~

(The End)